Music Makes Everything Better!

Lots of free time these past few days = lots of blogging! If you know me or you've read my blogs, you probably know running isn't exactly my thing. I'm more than happy to tackle a stairmaster, and I am a champ on the elliptical, but running has never been my thing. Recently I've decided to give running a second chance, and I'm actually starting to enjoy it! As much as I love yoga and pilates, I like a good old fashioned workout that leaves me sweaty, breathless, and completely drained, and running definitely does me in. Also all the other students here at UD can attest to the fact that the gym here is not the greatest. It's usually full of sweaty, smelly boys who give you death stares if you so much as look at the free weights. It's nice to escape the stuffy smelly gym every now and then and work out in the great outdoors. So, if y'all are like me and need a little extra motivation sometimes to get you going, I'll let you in on a secret. Music is the best motivator. When I think I can't put in another mile and the right song comes on, I can put in that one mile and then some. I thought it would be cool for me to share my playlist on here, and y'all can feel free to steal it or make some suggestions.

1) Electric Feel - MGMT
2) Crazy In Love - Beyoncé
3) Fade Into Darkness - Avicii
4) Boyfriend - Justin Bieber
5) Birthday Cake (Remix) - Rihanna & Chris Brown
6) Best Love Song - Chris Brown & T Pain
7) Ghosts 'n' Stuff - Deadmau5 ft. Rob Swire
8) Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Manaj
9) Fergalicious - Fergie
10) Levels - Avicii
11) Pause - Pitbull
12) Glad You Came - The Wanted
13) Starships - Nicki Manaj
14) 7 Nation Army - The White Stripes
15) Bass Down Low - DEB
16) Love on Top - Beyonce
17) Runaway - Kanye West
18) Kids - MGMT
19) Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
20) Shipping Up to Boston - The Dropkick Murphys (If this doesn't pump you up, I fear you're not alive)
21) Paralyzer - Finger 11
22) Call Me Maybe -Carly Rae Jespen

These aren't in any sort of order, I just put the playlist on shuffle and go for it!

Have any awesome songs that get you pumped to add to my playlist? I am open to suggestions! 

KENTucky Derby

This Saturday is the big day! Mela-No-More will be hosting our 7th annual KENTucky Derby at North Beach bar and grille in Dewey Beach, DE. Each year we have live and silent auctions, a buffet, cash bar, and lots of fun! Tickets are $50 and 100% of the proceeds go to fight melanoma and other skin cancers. Last year, Mela-No-More raised over $80,000 for our cause, and our goal for Saturday is $100,000. This is a cause so close to our hearts because it is something we know Kent would have loved. He was a notorious party animal, so there is no way to better celebrate his life than to party for him! Here is the link to the Mela-No-More website where you can buy tickets for Saturday and find out more information about our event and purpose.

 http://mela-no-more.org/event.aspx

If you're in the coastal Delaware area and you're looking for some fun on Saturday, come hang out at North Beach and help out a great cause!

See ya Saturday,

Alyssa

Greek Week, Mr. Delaware, and other Shenanigans!

Life at UD is a little crazy right now. We're finishing up the semester, getting ready for finals, and finishing up some final projects! Last week was Greek Week here at UD, and in my sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, (xi love y'all!) we look forward to this week all year! The week is full of competitions and fun, and it all culminates with Airband, a huge dance competition that sororities practice for months in advance. After practicing at 7 am every day I'm proud to say our Airband routine was a huge success, despite some serious prop malfunctions!

My little, Kayla, and I in full costume and ready to dance!

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Mr. Delaware pageant with my friend Becky Albini, Miss Atlantic Coast, to cheer on all the contestants. The new Mr. Delaware is absolutely hysterical and we had a great time! I even won a $50 gift certificate to one of my favorite pageant shops, The Perfect Dress, in Lawrenceville, NJ, where I got my competition gown for Miss Delaware!

The beautiful man behind my beautiful gown, Chris Saltalamacchio, Mr. Delaware 2008, and I at the Mr. Delaware competition.

With just 6 weeks left until Miss Delaware I am so relieved to say I have my entire wardrobe ready to go minus some alterations and touch ups, and one cocktail dress. Preparations at this point are all about getting me where I need to be by June. I've got the wardrobe, now I need to work on the rest of the package! I'm working out, eating right, practicing my talent every time I can get an empty room to myself and working on my confidence every day! It seems like the past few months have been a freight train leading up to June and honestly I hope the next few weeks fly by as well. Anticipation drives me crazy and I do not do well with suspense! At this point I will be accepting thoughts, prayers, well wishes, words of encouragement, and of course, donations to the Children's Miracle Network!

http://www.missamericaforkids.org/Home/Donate/alyssamurray

Shameless plug for donations, it's for a great cause!

Anyway, I have yet another busy week ahead of me, and the annual KENTucky Derby on Saturday in Dewey Beach, which deserves it's own blog entry, coming soon!

http://www.mela-no-more.org/event.aspx

Buy your tickets and come support Mela-No-More with a day full of fun at the beach!

XOXOXO,

Alyssa

5k's, Formals, and Orientations, oh my!

This weekend was a crazy one, that's for sure. Friday night I had my sorority formal at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. After about 2 hours of sleep I awoke to get pretty in full make up and hair for headshots at the Miss Delaware orientation in Milford at 8:30 am. Then I headed to Selbyville to celebrate my brother's 24th birthday, drove back up to Newark to hang out with the lovely Maria Cahill, and again somehow managed to cheat myself of a decent night of sleep. Sunday I woke up to run a 5k, went to a UD baseball game with Maria, had chapter and airband practice. All told, I danced for more hours than I slept this weekend! Busy for me, however, is definitely not a bad thing. 

Sorority formal was so much fun! I got to hang out with my GrandBig and my wonderful twin littles, dance, and play with some fishies. I was exhausted the next morning but it was definitely worth it!

Steph and Kayla (my Littles!), Me, and Ali (my GrandBig!)

The next morning I was so excited to head to Miss Delaware orientation, to see my old friends and make some new ones. Becky Albini, Miss Atlantic Coast is my partner in crime, so naturally we are always inseparable at pageant functions. I got to see Tierra, Miss Brandywine, my love, and all the other wonderful contestants. Big shout out to my Miss Delaware roommate, Alix Gardiner! Can't wait to spend the week getting to know you girl! Being at orientation made the impending pageant seem so real. It's a little scary that exactly 2 months from today, a new Miss Delaware will be crowned. While it breaks my heart that Maria's journey is entering a new chapter, I am beyond thrilled that I have a chance to add a chapter as Miss Delaware to my life story. (A 1 in 18 chance, but still a chance!) After Saturday, I can already tell that whoever is crowned in June will represent our state with class and grace. I was thrilled to practice my talent and get feedback from the board, pick my placement for Miss Delaware 2012, and learn part of our opening number! I am contestant number 7 (lucky number 7!) in the pageant, which puts me in the Mu group. This means that on Thursday, the first night of preliminary competition, I will be competing in swimsuit and on stage question, and Friday night I will compete in talent and evening gown.  I can't wait to perform my talent, which is a super upbeat jazz routine to "River Deep Mountain High," strut my newly fit figure in my swimsuit, and wear my incredible custom Tony Bowls gown. June cannot come soon enough!

I have no words for how much I love these two.

As far as the 5k goes, I am SO not a runner. I enjoy working out. Lifting weights is gradually becoming one of my favorite activities, I love the elliptical, and I am a big fan of spin/yoga/zumba, and kind of fun workout activity, but running, not so much. This year I decided to run my sorority's annual 5k. My goal was not to do it in a certain amount of time, or to win. My goal was to finish the entire race without stopping or walking. I am so proud to say that I accomplished my goal within 32 minutes, which may not be the best time for someone else, but is a huge accomplishment for me. You may have heard me mention before on here that I have been focusing on my health and fitness this past year. 2 dress sizes and 18 pounds ago, I could have never finished a 5k, or even a 1k probably. It's small victories like this one that keep me so motivated to keep working towards my goal of being Miss Delaware. If I can run a 5k, who says I can't reach my other goals?

My sorority sister/best friend/Distinguished Young Woman of Delaware successor, Veronica Townsend before running the Autism Speaks 5k!

This weekend was a busy one, but that's what being a titleholder with the Miss America Organization is all about. We must juggle schoolwork, our personal lives, pageant responsibilities, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and positive image. It's not easy, but it's worth it. This organization has helped me grow into a responsible and independent young woman. It's busy weekend like this one that make me grateful for friends, family, the opportunities I have to be this busy, and of course, my super comfortable bed!

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5

Sorry for being M.I.A.!

Hey everyone! Sorry for being M.I.A. lately but things have been so hectic between Miss Delaware preparations, being in the gym, lots of exams, and greek life, but I'm back! This weekend should be pretty hectic. Tomorrow morning I have a geology exam, rocks are SO not my thing, then Alpha Xi Delta formal is tomorrow night at the Camden Aquarium in Camden, NJ, Saturday morning is Miss Delaware orientation at 9am in Milford, (which will be fun seeing as I am NOT a morning person), then AZD's annual Autism Speaks 5k, which I will be running in. Sometimes it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day. Today I had airband practice (airband is a Greek life dance competition) at 7am, I just did some homework and a little studying, I have classes, then my first ever spray tan, which should be interesting, and then a study date with a friend in my geology class. 

Even though I'm so busy, I am unbelievably excited for orientation on Saturday. This is where we receive our placement for the pageant, get to know the girls we're not already friends with, practice our talents, and we are assigned our roommates for Miss Delaware week! It seems that it's all becoming so real now, which is encouraging and overwhelming at the same time. When I was crowned Miss Coastal Bay 2012, it felt like I had lightyears before I would go on to compete for Miss Delaware, but now that my competition wardrobe is complete, my talent has been choreographed, tweaked, improved, and practiced a million times, and I'm happier with my figure than I have ever been, it seems that June 16th is right around the corner. 

It seems so long ago that last year I showed up to my first Miss Delaware orientation, a scared, self-conscious, and  for once in my life, shy young girl. I was so humbled being in a room with so many accomplished women who seemed so much more grown up than I was, and I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. My talent was unrehearsed and barely choreographed, I didn't know how to style my hair or do make-up, and honestly I wanted nothing more than to go home the whole time. This year, 16 pounds lighter, much more prepared, and very confident, I can't wait to finally feel like I'm in a room full of 18 incredible girls that I belong in. The transformation I have made within myself and physically as well has not come easy, but it is worth all of the effort I have put in. All of the time in the gym, renting rooms in the Little Bob to practice my talent, giving up a few of my favorite foods, and some intense make up and hair lessons have made me into the best me I can ever be. I finally took the tools that God has given me, and used them to improve upon myself. These changes weren't something I did for the sake of Miss Delaware, or to please anyone but myself. I have put in the hard work and the time so that I can be happier with myself, and I am proud of the sacrifices I've made, and how far I've come. The dread I felt last year about going to orientation has been replaced with a sense of excitement, and now I can't wait! I can't wait to see my old friends, make some new ones, learn production numbers, get my placement, find out who my roommate is, and watch some incredible talent rehearsals!

XOXOXOXO

Alyssa 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Myth Debunked: Pageant Girls LOVE Food

Hey y'all, so if you haven't been fortunate enough to try my baking yet, I apologize. I make some mean cake balls and my red velvet cupcakes have been known to contain rainbows and sunshine dust. Clearly, as a competitor in the Miss Delaware Organization, I often can't enjoy too many of my baked goods. This is why I wanted to hit 3 main points in my blog. 

1) Contrary to popular belief, girls who compete in pageants eat. In fact, we eat a lot. We're not always in hardcore swimsuit training mode, and we cheat every now and then too. Shhh! Don't tell my trainer!

McKenzie from Toddlers and Tiaras knows what's up.

2) You need to cheat every so often. If you deprive yourself of everything delicious, you're going to be absolutely miserable, and no one will want to be around you no matter how good you look. I'm not saying cheat often, but once a week give in and let yourself have a cookie or two...or twelve. Okay not twelve, but one or  two won't kill you!


3) There are healthier versions of your favorite deserts! All you need to get your hands on these recipes is google!


Here's a perfect example of a desert I've made the lightened up version of and absolutely loved it! It's from oxygenmag.com. I promise you can't taste the black beans, and at 90 calories a pop you can afford to have 2! Every girl needs her chocolate fix once in a while  ;)

Ingredients:

Dry:

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/3 cup Sucanat 

Wet:

• 1 cup canned or boiled black beans, drained and mashed 
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 2 medium eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8"x8" baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.
3. In another smaller bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.
4. Add the bean mixture to dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well combined. Pour batter into pan.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked through. Insert a knife into the center – if it comes out clean, your brownies are ready.

Nutrients per serving:

Calories: 90, Total Fats: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 20 mg, Sodium: 55 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 10 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 3 g, Protein: 3 g, Iron: 1 mg

TIP: Instead of mashing the boiled beans, blend them in a food processer to get a smoother consistency for the batter – and keep them inconspicuous in the final product.

FIT FACT: Sucanat is pure dried sugar cane juice. It undergoes less processing and is slightly more nutritious than white or brown sugar, as it retains the mineral-rich molasses, which is normally stripped from refined sweeteners. It’s a bit pricier than white sugar, but it’s worth the splurge for producing clean baked treats.

There you have it: simple, healthy, and delicious! Enjoy!

Peace & Blessings

XOXOXOXO

Alyssa

What If?

This picture on my lovely Director, Jen Hayward's wall inspired me the other day, and it really got me thinking. What if every day I was thankful for every single thing? The fact that I am lucky enough to:

1) Wake up
2) Get out of bed and stand up
3) Go to the classes I generally complain about
4) The ability I have to exercise and work out
5) The responsibilities I have through my schoolwork and extracurricular activities
6) Having food to eat and the means to have everything I need for survival
7) A roof over my head
8) Supportive friends and family members
9) The opportunity to be competing for the title of Miss Delaware
10) Being the me that God created

Here's a little food for thought:

Crazy, right?

When I think about things this way, I have a whole lot to be thankful for. It's crazy to think of the amount of people who will not wake up tomorrow morning; those who cannot get out of bed; those who do not have enough food for nourishment; those who are not fortunate enough to attend college; those who do not have a stable home; and how I usually take all of these seemingly simple things for granted. What if every single day, I sent my thanks to the Lord for all the things he has given me in my life. I have always realized that my family and I are incredibly blessed, but some days, especially days like today where I'm feeling very under the weather and busy beyond belief, I tend to complain about the responsibilities I have. This is my new personal pledge to myself.

Each day I will
1) Thank the Lord for everything I have, no matter how small or trivial
2) Not take anything for granted
3) Live each day by His word, to make myself a faithful servant to Him
4) Do at least one thing that will make me a better person, and a better candidate for Miss Delaware 2012

What if you were grateful for everything one day, or every day? Try it out sometime, it could change your perspective on life.

XOXOXOX,

Alyssa

Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!